Sansevieria Plant Named &#39;Black Jack&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new variety Black Jack is part of the “compact  sansevieria  varieties”. It can reach 40 cm in length, with an average of approximately 8 leaves per plant. The plant is shaped like an inverted pyramid, the arrangement of the leaves is in the form of a rosette. Shows colors very similar to its parent variety (‘Black Gold Superba’), however it doesn&#39;t show variegated bands into the margins, the margins have only a yellow solid color, and ‘Black Jack’ presents more leaves per rosette than the parent.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE CLAIMED PLANT

Sansevieria trifasciata

VARIETY DENOMINATION

Black Jack

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSansevieria plant, botanically known as Sansevieria trifasciata, of thefamily Ruscaceae, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘BlackJack’.

Sansevieria is a monocotyledonous and succulent, flowering plant whichcan be produced in either hard-leafed or soft-leafed varieties forinterior use as a house plant or outdoor ornamental plant.

The new Sansevieria ‘Black Jack’ originated from a naturally-occurringmutation of the Sansevieria ‘Black Gold Superba’ (unpatented). The newSansevieria ‘Black Jack’ was discovered and selected by the inventor,Marvin Gonzalez Villegas, as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the stated mutation in a controlled environment in 2005 in Monterrey,San Carlos, Alajuela province, Costa Rica.

Asexual reproduction of the new Sansevieria cultivar by vegetativecuttings was first performed in January 2005 in Monterrey, San Carlos,Alajuela, Costa Rica, and demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘Black Jack’, which in combinationdistinguish this Sansevieria as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Green colored foliage with yellow margins and yellow-green and palegreen bands in the leaf blade.

2. Wide and lanceolate leaves (30 cm long) and supported in a rosette.

3. 30-40 cm plant height.

4. Erect Plant habit.

5. Needs little water and is very drought tolerant.

The new variety Black Jack, is considered a variety of Sansevieria inthe group denominated as “compact Sansevieria plants”. The new varietypresents an average of 7-10 leaves per plant when it reaches itsmaturity (between 8-10 months). The variety has an erect growth habitand the entire plant can reach a height range between 30 and 40 cm. Theleaves are narrow (6.5 cm average measured at the widest part of themature leaf) and lanceolate, with a soft waxy texture and the blades arethin and slightly wavy. The plant has an inverted triangle shape.

This variety is moderately drought tolerant and adapts to conditions oflight and shade (interior and exterior).

The leaf blade is deep yellowish-green colored (RHS 141A), and alsopresents non-uniform horizontal variegated bands on both sides of someleaves, with Yellow-Green RHS 149D and RHS 149B coloration. In addition,the leaves have irregular margins on both sides with an average width of1 cm. The margin coloration is brilliant yellowish-green (RHS 154B) anddoes not have bands into the margins.

Plants of the new Sansevieria ‘Black Jack’ differ from plants of theparental cultivar, ‘Black Gold Superba’ (unpatented) in thecharacteristics described in Table 1. The variety ‘Black Gold Superba’gave rise to the var. Black Jack. The ‘Black Gold Superba’ variety isalso considered to be part of the “compact Sansevieria group”. ‘BlackGold Superba’ shows less vigor than Black Jack, has fewer leaves perplant (3-4), and an average width of 6.5 cm (measured in the middle ofthe mature leaf.) The growth habit is erect and presents wide leavessupported in a rosette. The entire plant can reach a size between 30-40cm, and the plant has, as for ‘Black Jack’, an inverted triangle shape.The leaves are lanceolate with a soft, waxy texture. The younger leavesshow a yellowish green vivid coloration (RHS 134A) in the interior ofthe leaf blade. This area shows also irregular streaks oryellowish-green bands (RHS 142D) and the margins in both sides of theleaf are variegated with irregular horizontal bands that alternatebetween light yellowish green (RHS 142D) broad bands and brilliantyellowish green (RHS 149A) thin bands. When the leaf is mature, the deepcolor inside turns yellowish green (RHS 141B), while margins alternatebetween vivid greenish yellow (RHS 2A) and light-yellowish green (RHS2C) colors.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Varieties Female Parent New CultivarBlack Gold Superba Characteristic Black Jack (unpatented) Plant Vigormore vigorous (more less vigorous (less leaves) leaves) Color variegatedleaves green leaves with yellow (medium green cross- margins. bandingand dark green margins) Shape wide and lanceolate wide and lanceolateleaves on a rosette leaves Texture of smooth-textured leavessmooth-textured leaves leaves

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new Sansevieria ‘Black Jack’ is theSansevieria ‘Black Gold Superba’ (unpatented), in the characteristicsdescribed in Table 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Sansevieria cultivar ‘Black Jack’ showing the colors as true as isreasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors inthe photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the color of‘Black Jack’.

FIG. 1 Shows a side view of an eight-month old plant of Sansevieria‘Black Jack’ in a 21 cm diameter pot.

FIG. 2 Shows a top view of an eight-month old plant of Sansevieria‘Black Jack’ in a 21 cm diameter pot.

FIG. 3A Shows a close-up view of the upper side of a typical leaf of‘Black Jack’ taken from an eight-month old plant.

FIG. 3B Shows a close-up view of the lower side of a typical leaf of‘Black Jack’ taken from an eight-month old plant.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Sansevieria ‘Black Jack’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new Sansevieriacultivar ‘Black Jack’ as grown in open-field conditions in Monterrey,San Carlos, Alajuela province, Costa Rica, which closely approximatethose generally used in commercial practice. Average temperature atMonterrey is 24.5° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Plants growunder natural light conditions.

This crop does not require constant fertilization, however, to increaseproduction per area about 200 kg ha⁻¹ N, 150 kg ha⁻¹ of P and 100 kgha⁻¹ K are required. Production is closely related with soil conditionsin which the plants are grown.

Color references were made according to The Royal Horticultural SocietyColor Chart (R.H.S., April 2009). The photographs and descriptions weremade during the rainy season in Monterrey, San Carlos, Alajuelaprovince, Costa Rica, when outdoor day average temperature was 23° C.The age of the plants described is 8 months.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Sansevieria trifasciata.        -   Variety denomination.—Black Jack.-   Parentage: Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Black Gold Superba’    (unpatented).-   Optimal growth conditions:    -   -   Light intensities.—High adaptability to outdoor or indoor            conditions.        -   Temperature.—Day: 24° C. to 32° C. Night: 18° C. to 23° C.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerant to temperatures between            12° C. and 35° C.        -   Fertilization.—200, 150 and 100 kg ha⁻¹ of N, P and K.        -   Growth regulators.—Not necessary.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Vegetative, by rooted cuttings.        -   Rooting habit description.—Rhizomes, with short roots.        -   Time to initiate roots.—15 to 22 days at 18-25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 60 to 90 days at            18-25° C.-   Plant:    -   -   General appearance and form.—.        -   Height.—About 40 cm when grown on the ground; About 35 cm            when grown in a 21 cm size container.        -   Spread.—About 25 cm when grown on the ground; About 20 cm            when grown in 21 cm size container.        -   Form.—Monocot; leaf bases arranged in a rosette around            growing point.        -   Shape.—inverted triangle.        -   Growth rate and habit.—About 2 cm per week; upright.        -   Fragrance.—none.        -   Stem.—Modified (Rhizome and foliage).        -   Length.—About 8 cm when grown in ground; About 6 cm when            grown in 21 cm size container. Diameter: About 1.7 to 2 cm            Shape: round. Texture: rough Color: RHS 17A Strength: strong            and durable Internode length: About 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity.—About 5 leaves.        -   Arrangement and attachment.—Single, alternate; leaf bases            arranged in a rosette around growing point.        -   Leaf length.—About 30 cm.        -   Leaf width.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—lanceolate.        -   Apex shape.—acute, triangular.        -   Base shape.—plane.        -   Margin.—sharp, smooth.        -   Texture.—Upper Surface: smooth and waxy texture Under            Surface: smooth and waxy texture.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Color of mature leaf.—Upper Surface: RHS 141A, 149D, 149B            and 154B Lower Surface: RHS 141A, 149D, 149B and 154B.        -   Color of immature leaf.—Upper Surface: RHS 141A, 149D, 149B            and 154B Lower Surface: RHS 141A, 149D, 149B and 154B.        -   Venation.—Pattern: longitudinal/parallel leaf shape Color:            None.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Arrangement and type.—Inflorescence.        -   Orientation at opening.—out of the spike.        -   Quantity.—Per Plant with at least one open flower: One            inflorescence per plant About 22 flowers opened 2 weeks            after appearance of the spike. Flowers sporadically and            profusely under growth conditions.        -   Inflorescence size.—Length: About 28 cm Diameter: About 0.4            mm.        -   Flower size.—Length: About 2 cm Diameter: About 0.1 mm            Depth: About 1 cm.        -   Fragrance.—Soft and pleasant.        -   Bud.—.        -   Rate of opening.—About 7 to 8 days, according to weather.        -   Shape.—ovoid.        -   Length.—About 22.3 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 0.3 mm.        -   Color.—Apex: RHS 150A Base: RHS 142A.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—smooth.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—6.        -   Arrangement.—star-shaped.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 5per flower. Length: About 1.3            cm Color: RHS 150C Anther: Length: About 0.2 mm Width: About            0.1 mm Color: RHS 150C Filament: Length: About 1.1 mm Color:            RHS 150C Pollen: Amount: moderate Color: RHS 154D.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Number: One per flower Length: About 2.1            cm Stigma: Length: About 0.6 mm Width: About 0.8 mm Color:            RHS 150C Style: Length: About 1.3 mm Color: RHS150C Ovary:            Length: About 3 mm Width: About 2.5 mm Color: RHS 150C.-   Weather resistance: Drought tolerant-   Disease/pest resistance: not observed for disease/pest resistance.-   Disease/pest susceptibility: not observed for disease/pest    susceptibility.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Sansevieria plant named ‘BlackJack’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.